Clay Mineralogy of the Early Permian Warchha Sandstone at Katha Area, Central Salt Range, Pakistan

Abstract

Eleven samples of Warchha Sandstone exposed at Katha area, Salt Range, Pakistan were collected for their clay mineral studies. Qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses were carried out on less than 2 µ fraction size using X-ray diffraction technique. The studies revealed the occurrence of illite, kaolinite and illite- vermiculite as the most dominant, while smectite, vermiculite, chlorite and chloritevermiculite as the minor clay minerals in the studied samples. The clay mineral composition indicates depositional and diagenetic changes from base to top of the Warchha Sandstone. These changes are mainly due to the leaching and warm- humid environment of deposition